Merchandising machine cabinet



July 15, 1958 K. ROT-HHAUPT MERCHANDISING MACHINE CABINET Filed Jan. 17, 1955 INVENTOR.

KQRL Pom/mu r HTTOPNEY United States atent MERCHANDISING MACHINE CABINET Karl Rothhaupt, Morristown, N. J., assiguor to Rowe Manufacturing Co., Inc, Whippany, N. J., a corpora tion of New York Application January 17, 1955, Serial No. 482,1t31

7 Claims. (Cl. 312-222) My invention relates to a merchandising machine cabinet and more particularly to an improved merchandising machine cabinet which provides ready access to the operating parts of the machine and which is provided with means for preventing the cabinet cover from tilting when the cabinet is opened.

Merchandising machines of the prior art include cabinets within which the operating parts and supply containers of the machine are housed. These cabinets have removable front panels or doors which give access to the interior of the machine when necessary in the routine maintenance or repair thereof. These panels or doors also permit loading of the supply containers housed by the cabinet. It will readily be appreciated that in such constructions many working parts of the machine are not readily accessible, even after the front panel has been removed or the door has been opened. In order to reach many parts of the machine the Serviceman must either work within the cabinet space, or he must demount and remove the operating assembly from within the cabinet. Such operations are inconvenient, costly, and time-consuming, and may be eliminated with advantage.

I have invented an improved merchandising machine cabinet which provides ready access to the parts of the machine disposed within the cabinet without demo'unting the machine. My cabinet includes a back panel and a base to which the operating parts of the machine are secured. My cabinet is completed by a shell or cover releasably secured to a back panel and base to enclose the operating structure of the machine. Owing to the shape of the cover, it has a tendency easily to topple or tip over. I have provided my removable cover with means for preventing its tilting or toppling over after the cover is removed from the back panel and during the handling of the removed cover.

One object of my invention is to provide an improved merchandising machine cabinet which affords ready access to the operating parts of the machine without the necessity of demounting or of removing the machine from the cabinet.

A further object of my invention is to provide an improved merchandising machine cabinet which includes a base and a cover and means for removably securing the cover to the base.

Still another object of my invention is to provide an improved merchandising machine cabinet including a back paneland base, a cover reieasably secured to said back panel and base, and means for preventing tilting or toppling of the cover when it is removed from the back panel and base and handled.

Other and further objects of my invention will appear from the following description.

in general my invention contemplates the provision of a door adapted to be separated from the cabinet. The arrangement is such that the door forms the front, sides, and top of the cabinet. Means are provided for sliding the door free of the back panel and base of the cabinet which support the operating mechanism of the machine proper. Owing to the configuration of the door, it is apt to tip when handled. Iprovide feet which automatically project from the cabinet door when it is free and are housed when the door is in place. These feet act to increase the door base area and thus prevent its ready tipping when the door is handled.

in the accompanying drawings which form part of the instant specification and which are to be read in conjunction therewith and in which like reference numerals are used to indicate like parts in the various views:

Figure l is a perspective view of a merchandising machine including my improved cabinet with the cover removed.

Figure 2 is a sectional view, drawn on an enlarged scale, taken along the line 2-2 of Figure: 1, of my improved merchandising machine cabinet.

Figure 3 is a sectional view, drawn on an enlarged scale, taken along the line 3--3 of Figure 2, showing the cover support means of my improved merchandising machine cover.

Figure 4 is a side elevation, drawn on an enlarged scale, taken along the line 4-4 of Figure 1, of the base and back panel of my improved merchandising machine cabinet showing the means for releasably securing the cover in housing position.

More particularly referring now to the drawings, my improved merchandising machine cabinet includes a base 10 to which is secured by any convenient means, such as welding or the like, a back panel 12. The operating mechanism, indicated generally by the reference character 14, of my machine is mounted on the base 16 and on the back panel 12 by means such as bolts or the like. I provide a cover, indicated generally by the reference character 16, for enclosing the operating structure 14 which is supported by the base 10 and the back panel 12. The cover 16 includes a top 18, sides 20, and a front panel 22, which may be secured in assembled position by means, such as welding, to form the cover 16. Cover 16 also includes a base frame, indicated generally by the reference character 24. The structure, including top 18, sides 20, and front panel 22, may be mounted on the base frame 24 by means such as screws 26 or the like. The front panel 22 supports a button panel assembly 28 and delivery tray assembly 349.

As can be seen by reference to Figures 2 and 3, the frame 24 includes flanged sides 32 and 34 to which the respective side panels 24) are secured and a front 36 to which front panel 22 is secured. In order to support the cover 16 in its movement away from the base 10 and away from back panel 12, I provide a number of rollers or casters 38 carried by respective flanges 40 and 42 formed on the sides 32 and 34. Each of the casters 3% is rotatably mounted on a pin 44 carried by a swivel frame 46. Each of the frames 46 is pivotally carried by a pivot pin 43. Pins 48 have threaded ends which receive nuts 59 for retaining the pins on the flanges 40 and 42. A washer 52 is disposed on the shank of the pivot pin 48 between the flange 4i) or 42 and the frame 46. Conveniently, I provide four casters 38, pairs of which are carried in spaced relationship by the respective flanges 4t) and 42. i

Referring now to Figures 1 and 4, I mount brackets 54 on back panel 12 by any convenient means such as rivets, or the like, adjacent the respective sides 20 of the cover 16. Brackets 54 are supported from base 10 by supports 55 carried by the base. Each of the brackets 54 includes an inclined surface 56 leading to a re-entrant portion 58 formed in the bracket. Pivot pins 62 on the respective brackets mount latches 60. Associated with each of the latches 60 is a respective spring 64 fixed at one end to an end of the latch and at the other end to the back panel 12. Spring 64 normally biases its associated latch 60 to rotate in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 4, about the pivot 62. Stops 66 carried by the brackets 54 limit the pivotal movement of latches 60 under the action of springs 64. When the latches 6t) engage pins 66, the upper ends of the latches extend a short distance above the respective surfaces 56 of the brackets 54 on which the latches are mounted.

Latches 61) provide a means for retaining the lower portion of the cover 16 in assembled position on the back panel 12; and the base of the machine. These latches 'also function to prevent forcible removal of the cover 16 '68 is mounted adjacent the front panel 22 of the cover,

while roller 70 is mounted adjacent the rear edge of panel 28. Roller 78 is positioned slightly above roller 68. When the cover 16 is to be assembled on the machine, it is rolled on casters 38 toward the back panel 12. As the cover is rolled toward back panel 12, rollers 70 engage the surfaces 56 of brackets 54 and are guided upwardly upon them. When the cover has been moved a suificient distance toward its assembled position, rollers 68 engage the surface 56 and are guided thereby. As the rollers 78 approach re-entrant portions 58, they engage the ends of latches 60 extending above surfaces 56 to pivot the latches in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 4, against the action of springs 64. When rollers 70 ride into re-entrant portions 58, springs 64 pivot latches 611 to snap the upper ends of the latches in place behind rollers 76) to retain cover 16 in assembled position. I provide guides 76 carried by the back 12 adjacent the sides thereof for ensuring that cover 16 is properly guided in place on the machine. Cover 16 carries a lock 78 adjacent the top thereof which may be actuated to lock cover 16 in position on the back panel 12. Lock 78 may be of any conventional sliding latch type known to the art.

It will be appreciated that latches 60 provide a means for retaining cover 16 in assembled position. They prevent the forcible removal of the cover from the machine when lock 78 is locked. If no latches 68 were provided, a thief could grasp the lower portion of the cover, pull it outwardly from the machine, and possibly break lock 78 and thus remove the cover 16. Latches 6t) prevent the removal of cover 16 in this manner. If an attempt were made to draw the bottom of cover 16 away from the machine, movement of rollers 70 out of the re-entrant portions 58 would be effectively prevented by latches 68.

Such a movement would tend to pivot latches 60 in a .counterclockwise direction about the pivots 62. This movement of the latches is prevented by stops 66. When it is desired to remove the cover 16 from the machine, lock 78 is released. This frees top 18 of the cover 16, which is then pivoted outwardly to raise rollers 78 over the upwardly extending ends of latches 68. In the course of this operation, rollers 68 resting on surface 56 act as pivots for the cover 16. I leave sufficient space between the lower edges 61 of upper extending portions 63 of brackets 54 and the upper ends of the latches 61) to permit passage of the rollers 70 therebetween. rollers 70 have been raised over latches 68, the cover 16 may be rolled away from the machine on casters 38. In the course of this movement, rollers 68 and 78 ride on the surfaces 56.

In its removed position cover 16 has a center of gravity 7 of ornamental design considerations and the necessary location of the physical structure, such as the button After ing and toppling over of the cover 16.

panel assembly and the delivery tray 30, carried by the cover 16. The ornamental design of the cover 16 is shown in Des. Patent No. 170,893, issued November 17, 1953, to R. Spilman et a1.

If some means were not provided to resist the tendency of the cover 16 to tilt when disassembled from the machine, cover 16 might topple over and be broken or otherwise damaged. I have provided means for preventing cover 16 from tilting when it is removed from the machine. This means functions automatically immediately upon removal of the cover from the machine. As can be seen by reference to Figures 2 and 3, I pivotally mount respective feet 80 and 82 on pins 84 and 86 carried in spaced location by the front 36 of the base frame 2 4 of the cover 16. A spring 88 is fixed at one end to a pin 90 on foot 80 and is fixed at the other end to a pin 92 carried by front 36. A spring 94 is fixed at one end to a pin 96 on foot 82 and is fixed at the other end to a pin 98 carried by front 36. The respective springs 83 and 94 normally urge feet 80 and 82 to a position where they extend forwardly of the base frame 24 of cover 16. The movement of the feet 80 and 82 under the action of the springs 88 and 94 is limited by stops 168 and 102 carried by feet 80 and 82. Feet 80 and 82 have respective cam surfaces 104 and 106. Surfaces 184 and 106 are on the ends of feet 80 and 82 which engage the base 10 of the machine as the cover is moved into assembled position. When the surfaces 104 and 186 engage base 10 as the cover is moved into assembled position, the feet 80 and 82 are rotated to inoperative position against the action of the springs 88 and 94. Thus feet 80 and 82 are automatically retracted as the cover is assembled on the machine so that they do not detract from the appearance of the machine cabinet when assembled. When the cover is removed from the machine, feet 811 and 82 are extended by springs 88 and 94 to a position where they project forwardly of the cover. They provide surfaces on which the cover may rest and thus prevent the tilting forward and toppling over of the cover 16 when it is removed from the machine.

When my cabinet is in assembled position, rollers 70 are engaged by latches and lock 78 is locked. When it is desired to gain access to the interior of the cabinet and the operating parts of the machine, lock 78 is released. The operator grasps the upper end of cover 16 and rotates the cover about rollers 68 to move rollers up over latches 61). The cover may then be rolled away from the machine on casters 38. As soon as the cover 16 is moved away from base 10, springs 88 and 94 urge feet 84 and 82 to operative position where they prevent tilt- Removal of the cover 16 exposes substantially all the operating mechanism 14 of the machine. A repair or serviceman may then gain access to the supply containers and operating parts of the machine without demounting parts from the base It and back panel 12. When the cover is to be reassembled on the machine, it is rolled back toward back panel 12 and rollers 70 and 68 are guided up the surface 56. Rollers 70 ride over latches 60, pivoting them against the action of springs 64. When rollers 70 are seated in re-entrant portions 58, latches 60 are moved by springs 64 to a position to retain rollers 70 in the reentrant portions 58. Look 78 may then be locked. It will be appreciated that guides 76 ensure proper alignment of cover 16 with base 10 and back panel 12. As

'the cover 16 is moved toward back panel 12, surfaces 104.

of 'the machine without demounting the operating assembly and removing it from the machine. I have provided means for retaining the cover in assembled position on the cabinet base. This retaining means prevents forcible removal of the cover when locked to the back panel of the machine. My improved cabinet is provided with means for preventing tilting of the cabinet cover when removed from the machine. This means is automatically operative when the cover is removed and is automatically rendered inoperative when the cover is reassembled on the machine.

It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and sub'cornbinations. This is contemplated by and is within the scope of my claims. It is further obvious that various changes may be made in details within the scope of my claims without departing from the spirit of my invention. It is therefore to be understood that my invention is not to be limited to the specific details shown and described.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A merchandising machine cabinet for housing the operating mechanism of a merchandising machine including in combination a base, a back panel supported by said base, said back panel and base being adapted to support said operating mechanism in an exposed position, a cover for enclosing said operating mechanism, means mounting said cover for movement substantially on a level from a position in place on said back panel to a position free of the back panel, a bracket formed with a surface having a reentrant portion, means mounting said bracket in a fixed position with respect to said base, and means carried by said cover for engagement with said reentrant portion when said cover is moved to a position in place on said back panel and base to enclose said exposed operating mechanism.

2. A merchandising machine cabinet for housing the operating mechanism of a merchandising machine including in combination a base, a back panel supported by said base, said back panel and base being adapted to support said operating mechanism in an exposed position, a cover for enclosing said operating mechanism, means mounting said cover for movement substantially on a level from a position in place on said back panel to a position free of the back panel, a bracket formed with a surface having a reentrant portion, means mounting said bracket in a fixed position with respect to said back panel and said base, a roller carried by said cover for engagement with said reentrant portion when said cover is moved to a position in place on said back panel and base, and a latch cari'ied by said bracket for retaining said roller in said reentrant portion when said cover is moved to a position in place on said back panel and base to enclose said exposed operating mechanism.

3. A merchandising machine cabinet for housing the operating mechanism of a merchandising machine including in combination a base, a back panel supported by said base, said back panel and base being adapted to support said operating mechanism in an exposed position, a cover for enclosing said operating mechanism, means mounting said cover for movement substantially on a level from a position in place on said back panel to a position free of the back panel, a bracket formed with a guide surface having a reentrant portion, means mounting said bracket in a fixed position with respect to said back panel and base, a first roller carried by said cover, a second roller carried by said cover, said first roller riding along said guide surface and into the reentrant portion when said cover is assembled on said back panel and base, said second roller remaining in engagement with said guide surface when said cover is so assembled, and a latch for retaining said first roller in engagement with said reentrant portion, said second roller acting as a pivot for said cover when the cover is removed from the back panel and base.

4. A merchandising machine cabinet for housing the operating mechanism of a merchandising machine including in combination a base, a back panel supported by said base, said back panel and base being adapted to support said operating mechanism in an exposed position, a cover for enclosing said operating mechanism, means mounting said cover for movement substantially on a level from a position in place on said back panel to a position free of the back panel, a bracket formed with a surface having a reentrant portion, a roller carried by said cover for engagement with said reentrant portion when the cover is assembled on the back panel and base, a latch, means pivotally mounting said latch on said bracket adjacent said reentrant portion, a stop for limiting the pivotal movement of the latch, and means biasing the latch to a position against the stop, the arrangement being such that said latch extends above said surface to retain said roller in said reentrant portion when the cover is in assembled position.

5. A merchandising machine cabinet for housing the operating parts of a merchandising machine including in combination a base, a back panel supported by said base, said back panel and base being adapted to support the operating parts of the machine, a cover, means for removably securing said cover to said back panel, said cover being movable to an assembled position on said back panel to enclose said operating parts and to a disassembled position free of said back panel to expose said operating parts, a foot, means pivotally mounting said foot on said base, and a spring for biasing said foot to operative position when said cover :is disassembled to support the cover in an upright position.

6. A merchandising machine cabinet for housing the operating parts of a merchandising machine including in combination a base, a back panel supported by said base, said back panel and base being adapted to support the operating parts of the machine, a cover, means for removably securing said cover to said back panel, said cover being movable to an assembled position on said back panel to enclose said operating parts and to a disassembled position free of said back panel to expose said operating parts, a foot, means pivotally mounting said foot on said base, and a spring for biasing said foot to operative position when said cover is disassembled to support the cover in an upright position, said foot being formed with a cam surface adapted to be engaged by said base to pivot said foot to inoperative position against the action of said biasing means.

7. A merchandising machine cabinet for housing the operating parts of a merchandising machine including in combination a base, a back panel supported by said base, said back panel and base being adapted to support the operating parts of the machine, a cover, means for removably securing said cover to said back panel, said cover being movable to an assembled position on said back panel to enclose said operating parts and to a disassembled position free of said back panel to expose said operating parts, a foot, means pivotally mounting said foot on said base, a spring for biasing said foot to operative position when said cover is disassembled to support the cover in an upright position, and a stop for limiting the pivotal movement of the :foot under the action of the spring.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 152,483 Grimes June 20, 1874 857,265 Wilcox June 18, 1907 1,636,431 Parks July 19, 1927 1,697,654 .lantzen Jan. 1, 1929 2,392,511 Thompson Jan. 8, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS 677,159 Great Britain Aug. 13, 1952 

